Big Brother Watches You - Attitudes Towards Mass Surveillance in Hungary

Mass surveillance, deeply rooted in ancient civilizations, has evolved significantly with modern technology, raising profound ethical and practical questions. Modern surveillance methods demonstrate significant advancements in crime prevention but also provoke concerns about privacy and civil liberties. Current article explores the public perception of Hungarians regarding mass surveillance based on the European Values Study and World Values Survey's Hungarian data calling attention to the delicate balance between security and privacy, emphasizing the need for proportional, transparent, and accountable surveillance practices. The analysis of 1514 respondents' data reveals varied attitudes, with greater acceptance of video surveillance in public areas compared to monitoring private communications. Demographic factors such as age, income, and education significantly influence these attitudes, with older individuals and those from smaller settlements being more supportive of mass surveillance, while higher income and education levels correlate with less acceptance towards the government monitoring individual activities.